PEDALBOARD GUIDE

PEDALBOARD GUIDE

WHAT YOU NEED TO BUILD PEDALBOARD

Let’s start with the basics before we dive into some more subtle decision-making regarding the setup.

PEDALS

You may already have a pedal collection but if you’re just starting your journey and need some recommendations, check out our Top 10 guitar pedals for beginners article.

PEDALBOARD

These come in all shapes and sizes as well as different materials.

  • Weight is an important factor, so don’t buy a gigantic board made of wood if you value portability.
  • Velcro is a great way to hold pedals in place while keeping the option to easily remove/reposition them.

CABLES

Patch cables come in different lengths which helps keep everything neat and tidy (avoiding that cable salad).

To save space, look for cables that are flat and have a low-profile right-angle design.

POWER SUPPLY

This is a complex topic and choosing which power supply you need depends on the pedals you have.

  • Most standard pedals are happy campers with 9 volts.
  • You can often get away with using a so-called daisy chain, which connects all pedals to power through one power cable.
  • The Truetone 1 Spot is a common entry-level pedal purchase.
  • One downside of this type of power supply is that it can lead to a noisy pedal.

VOLTS,AMPERAGE AND POLARITY

When you need a more reliable and flexible power supply, a dedicated ‘power brick' is the way to go. They allow you to connect pedals of different voltages (9v, 12v, 18v)

Also, be aware of the power supply polarity to ensure you use the correct power adapter or battery.

  • Double-checking the polarity information in the pedal's user manual or on the pedal itself will help you avoid potential damage.
  • Be mindful of any vintage or custom pedals with different signal flow requirements.

CASE

Much like guitars, pedalboards will normally come with some type of case. Whether what came with it provides enough protection totally depends on your needs.

  • Soft cases are light but don’t protect your pedals all that well.
  • Road cases protect your pedals but are usually quite heavy – some of them come with wheels for that very reason.
  • Unless you’re gigging heavily and having your gear thrown into vans or planes a softer case will probably be fine.


SETTING UP BOARD

Your pedalboard doesn’t need to look like everyone else’s. Sure, there are common practices but what matters is that it does what you want it to do.

Below is an example of a simple pedalboard for small gigs. This one may not work for everyone but it all depends on what you need – your pedalboard only needs to suit you!

WHICH ORDER WORKS BEST FOR GUITAR PEDALS?

There is no set rule – you can experiment with different orders for your signal chain.

Here are some common options for you to try out (we’re using ‘gain’ as a blanket term for overdrive, distortion, fuzz, etc):

  • Gain > modulation (chorus, tremolo, phaser) > delay > reverb
  • Tuner > compressor > gain > volume pedal > modulation (chorus, tremolo, phaser) > delay > reverb
  • Tuner > volume pedal > gain > delay > reverb > modulation (chorus, tremolo, phaser) > looper

Before you connect up all your pedals, make sure you have a plan – it’ll save you a lot of time.

  • Set up your pedals without a board and decide on the order you like best.
  • If your pedal board has more than one row, put your most frequently used pedals in the front row for easy access and help to avoid those impromptu tapdancing performances.
  • If you’re still shopping for pedals, you could use an online tool that lets you plan a pedalboard virtually beforehand.
  • Be aware that not all pedals are laid out the same way – some need more space on the sides for cables, and some need space above or below.
  • Measure out which length of patch cables you need and which style of jack – sometimes a right angle is more helpful for saving space.
  • Figure out where you want the power supply to sit so that all cables can reach the assigned pedal from that position.

How to choose the size of your guitar pedalboard

Go big or go home! In reality, you’re the one that has to carry it home – so be mindful of how heavy a huge pedalboard full of metal boxes can get.

Figure out what you really need, and decide what makes the most sense for your situation. Trial and error often comes into play here.

Remember: Even if you own 20 pedals, you don’t necessarily need them all on your pedalboard at the same time.

MINIMALIST SET-UP: CHOOSE YOUR PEDALBOARD FIRST.

This is the option if you want to limit yourself from the get-go. Decide on the size and weight of the pedalboard first, then choose which of your pedals you want to include or what pedals to buy.

The planning phase will take up most of your time for this version. Here are a few tips to keep a small footprint:

  • Ditch the tuner pedal and get a good clip-on tuner.
  • Look for small versions of pedals you’re interested in. Many manufacturers started making mini models that are slimmer than the original. The knobs are usually tiny, which is not for everyone.
  • Ditch the tuner pedal and get a good clip-on tuner.
  • Look for small versions of pedals you’re interested in. Many manufacturers started making mini models that are slimmer than the original. The knobs are usually tiny, which is not for everyone.
  • Be open to a puzzle exercise where not every pedal faces the same direction.
  • Some pedals connect to a power supply on the left or right side, and some on top.
  • If you’re willing to operate a pedal sideways, you might be able to fit more on your board.
  • Digital multi-effects pedals are another way to increase options while saving space.

The sonic surfboard setup: All your pedals in one place

If you’re not worried about the weight or how much space your pedalboard is going to take up, then just follow these steps to find the size that will fit all your pedals:

STEP ONE: ARRANGE PEDALS

 Organize the pedals on the floor in the order you want to place them on the pedalboard. Remember to consider the space between pedals for patch cables and power supply connections.

STEP TWO: MEASURE DIMENSIONS

Measure the total length and width of the arranged pedals to get an idea of the minimum required pedalboard size.

STEP THREE: CONSIDER FUTURE ADDITIONS 

Let’s be honest, once you start buying guitar pedals, you will likely keep buying more. So, leave a little extra space for pedals you haven’t bought yet. 


VFOR PEDALBOARD PLANNER VISIT:

https://pedalplayground.com

 

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